August 15, 2008

The Sword is Sufficient

Summer Morning: Dedham from Langham Giclee Print by John Constable

The last three mornings have been cool and comfortable. 

A Texas August is never cool and comfortable.

I am learning so much lately.  I have been chasing after God for a few months now.  I want more of Him.  I was, long ago, tired of my will and my ways.  I fail myself, I fail my husband, I fail my children, I fail my Lord. 

"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;"  ~~II Corinthians 3:5

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  ~~Hebrews 4:12

 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."  ~~John 1:1

God has been showing me the power of His word.  He has been teaching me how sufficient His word is.  He has been showing me how insufficient that I am.  Do you understand?  The little bible with the maroon cover that lays upon the table in my home...it is not an it..."it" is Him.  He is sufficient.  Sufficient for every problem, every question of the day...

We have a tendency to want to "gulp" down a bit of God's word in the morning or in the evening and then we try to sustain ourselves on that small taste all day long.  We find ourselves in a "hamster wheel" just running and running and getting so tired. 

We are starving ourselves of Him.  How can we rest in His sufficiency when we run all day long and leave Him, our bibles, sitting on the table, touched...opened only briefly each day? 

What would happen if we opened God's word morning, noon and night and often in between?  What would happen if we put down everything but His word?  What would happen if we quit trying to "binge on God's word" and started consuming it?  What would happen if we began to nourish ourselves by simply reading His word.  No "bible studies", no devotionals, no watered-down forms or versions or outlines...

Just the sufficiency of The Sword...

I think it would be cool and comfortable...

...I think it would be like breathing in the coolness of the last three mornings. 

I think it would be like feeling comfortable on an August morning in Texas...

~~~ 

posted by Mrs. Klause

August 15, 2008

Music:  Big Snow in Salzburg

 

August 11, 2008

My Crown of Glory!

Birthdays are so different now that I have my own children.  It is a wonderful day to celebrate a life...a life breathed into existence by our Heavenly Father!

This is Mr. & Mrs. Hall.  Mrs. Hall is an amazing and wonderful woman and a dear friend:

 Mrs. Hall and I decided some years back that we were going to grow old God's way.  We decided that we were going to refuse the world's way of everlasting youthfulness and embrace the blessing of growing older, whatever that may bring.

We decided that we would celebrate with a tea party once one of us found our first grey hair.  I suppose that might just seem a bit silly to some folks but we intend it in all seriousness.  My dear friend moved 2000 miles from me about two weeks prior to the evening that I spied my first grey hair.  We celebrated via telephone and decided that our tea might have to be postponed until we both had a grey strand to celebrate, thereby giving us time to save some pennies for travel.

A few days ago, I located the second grey strand atop my head.  Bailey happened to be standing beside me and questioned my excitement.  I laughed and said to Bailey, "My words are not adequate, let me just read it to you."  She was fast on my heels as I spun around and headed toward my bible.

Here is what I read to my daughter:

The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.  ~~Proverbs 16:31

I explained to Bailey that hoary means grey.  Then I read it again like this:  "The grey head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness."  'Bailey, that means that God has started making my crown of glory!  My grey hair can be a crown of glory if I walk in righteousness with the Lord!  Isn't that exciting?  :0)'

Bailey smiled and said, "Mommy I am happy about your grey hairs, too.  But what does that mean, 'a crown of glory'?"

I said, "Bailey, I don't know precisely and exactly what that means.  I know that as I grow older and as I grey, if my grey hair is found in the way of righteousness, that it is a crown that God is making just for me.  I know that it is amazing and humbling to watch God work."

:0)

With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.  ~~Job 12:12

It never fails.  If we look around us, we find that this old world twists every aspect of God's way for our lives.  I don't want any part of that.  He created us!  He knows how many hairs we have upon our heads...it is his hand that begins to "paint" each of those strands grey.  How can we possibly choose not to embrace God's perfect design?

The Old Quilt Giclee Print by Walter Langley

There are many years to come before I resemble this lovely woman.

On each August 11th, I choose to be thankful for whatever the Lord brings in my next year of life. 

~~~

August 11th is also a day that think of my own mother...as she cared for a newborn infant and began her journey into motherhood.  If you are a mother, you know exactly how wonderful your child's birthday is. 

Happy Birthing Day Mother!  ;0)

Mother  

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

August 11, 2008

Music:  Moonlight Sonata in honor of my Mother & my Grandmother Bettye

 

 

August 10, 2008

Wait & Don't Be Weary

Ocean Wave Photographic Print

26Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.

 27Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?

 28Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

 29He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

 30Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

 31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

August 10, 2008

Music: Make My Life A Prayer To You

August 05, 2008

...we hold it in our hands...

Twoedged sword

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  ~~Hebrews 4:12

~~~

Do we actually have any idea of what we hold in our feeble hands?  Can we actually wrap our sinful and selfish minds around the power of God's Holy Word?  His Word is quick.  His word is powerful.  His word is sharper than any twoedged sword.  Do we get that?  Do we understand that it is the words written on the pages of our bibles that pierce our souls?  Do we gather that it is the Word that is Him? 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."  ~~John 1:1

 

posted by Mrs. Klause

August 5, 2008

Music: Lord of the Dance

July 30, 2008

...face Him...

Pink Blossom Art Print by Summer Thornton

I've never had a need to sweep the front porch and sidewalk daily...until now.  We have a tall crepe myrtle that stretches her flowered branches out over the sidewalk. 

Each morning I am honored to open the front door for my husband so that he may leave for work.  I respect him greatly for working so hard every single day.  His hands are full with a cup of coffee and his lunch as he steps out onto the porch.  I kiss him goodbye and sweep the small pink flowers off of the porch as he leaves for the day. 

Our neighborhood is quiet.  This morning the clouds were thick and white overhead and the sun was tucked behind the low clouds in the eastern sky.  A steady and comfortable breeze blew against my face.  The birds are busy this morning.  They are chittering to one another, hopping along rooftops and flying in swoops and circles. 

The clouds overhead as so beautiful.  I want to reach out and touch the softness and pull it to me.  Then...the wind...the breeze...

I am reminded of how big God is, how powerful.  It is His desire that the light wind cool my skin as I stand on the sidewalk.  The breeze pushes firmly against me as I turn to face it.  The gusts blow and it whips my hair in front of my eyes.  Then it slows and I can feel the coolness floating in between my fingers.

Southern Breeze Framed Art Print by Green

The wind seems like the will of God.  I cannot control it but I can submit to the mightiness of it, the power of it, the softness of it...

 "1The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

 2Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.

 3The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.

 4The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

 5Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever."

~~Psalm 93

Turn to His face...

Be still...

Feel His presence brush over...

Let Him consume you...

Every day...

Every moment...

...turn to face Him...

~~~

Please, stay and listen for a few moments...

posted by Mrs. Klause

July 30, 2008

Music: Kindness of Strangers

July 24, 2008

Teacup Tuesdays - This is what it is all about.

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This is Kennedy in her gown drinking a cup of hot tea before breakfast.

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Sleepy eyes and soft padding feet...  It is truly one of the best things to see and hear each day.  As each child wakes up, she comes to find me and we cuddle and kiss and hug and "love each other" into another day.  Oft times we have tea in the morning.  It satisfies their hunger so that we can prepare our morning meal together.  "Taking tea" could also be said "tying strings".  The conversations that take place over a cup of tea are always so wonderful. 

Sometimes we have fancy tea parties but most of the time I sit and have tea with my children just as I sit and have tea with friends.  We talk of this, that and the other; sometimes the conversation is lighthearted and many times the conversations are heart-changing.  This is what the teacup is all about.  It makes for a lovely addition and decoration to our home but it is the strings that are tied right through the very handles.  It is the strings that weave us together.  It is not the tea that is contained within the teacup, it is the relationships that fill the cups and it is the memories that overflow onto the saucers.

Although I so enjoy a cup of tea with a dear friend, the very best cup of tea is taken with my child.

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...sometimes we laugh and smile over our tea...

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...sometimes we cry...

 "9For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;  10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;  11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;  12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:  13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:  14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:  15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:  16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."  ~~Colossians 1:9-17

~~~

I pray that my children be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

I pray that they might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work.  I pray that they would increase in the knowledge of God and be strengthened with all might.  All according to the HIS GLORIOUS POWER!  I pray that it be all unto patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.  I give thanks unto the Father which hath made my children meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light...

~~~

The Lord has been teaching me to pray...not the fumbling words of a sinful and selfish wife and mother...but teaching me to pray the very words breathed by the all-mighty, all-knowing, all-merciful, all-loving, most-holy Creator. 

As we sit across the table from our children today, we must listen intently and leave all the busyness of the day aside.  Their characters are being formed, the hearts are being changed...

Each conversation...it really is all about eternity.

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

July 24, 2008

Music:

July 22, 2008

Do You Ever Enjoy The Silence?

I wrote this last year but feel it important to share again.  The Lord has brought me full circle in the matter of being quiet, particularly in reference to our husbands.  Autumn Reflections Art Print by Mike Jones

"Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit."  ~ Ecclesiastes 4:6

"The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD."  ~ Lamentations 3:25-26

"And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing."  ~ I Thessalonians 10-12

Over the last year the Lord has been teaching me to be quiet.  The Lord will always take our fumblings and self-will and use it to His glory but have you ever stopped to think about what He might do if were to just be quiet for awhile?  If we were to serve and love others...particularly our husbands...but cease to constantly excerpt our thoughts and opinions...    Are you guilty of speaking defensively to some of your husbands comments?  I am.  Are you guilty of snipping at your husband when he fails to live up to your expectations?  I am.  Are you guilty of grumping and nagging your husband?  I am.  Are you guilty of just being crabby and sour in tone of voice?  I am.  How about the other side of the coin?  Are you guilty of giving suggestions that weigh heavily towards your desires?  I am.  Are you guilty of jumping on the bandwagon of complaint or gossip?  I am. 

Silence and quietness is a powerful and tremendous blessing.  Without our constant ramblings and regular voice into ALL matters, I wonder what the Creator would do.  What exactly would He work together?  What precisely would He orchestrate in the heart of your beloved husband without your words.  Don't misunderstand me now...  Our words can be a great encouragement to our husbands.  I am his helper, his lover, his confidant, his best friend.  I should be the arms of Christ when my beloved is weary.  I should be his greatest warrior, in prayer on your knees daily for my husband.  We should always be ready with words of kindness and encouragement for our husbands.

Do you often think you know what is best?  I do.  I am guessing that there are times when we do know best but it may not always be appropriate for us to make sure that we tell our husbands just how it should be.  Have you been in prayer over a particular issue concerning your husband or your children or your family?  The Lord has been teaching me that there are great rewards and blessings in silence.  Serving, loving and ministering to my beloved husband in silence is an amazing thing!  We visit and talk of course but God's word tells us to pray without ceasing and to do all things without complaining or arguing.  When we are in constant prayer and when we never complain or argue, the words from our mouth should be laced with sweetness and never spoken without prayer first.  "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones."  ~ Proverbs 16:24

Think of all that God has created.  Think of the daily miracle of the sunrise and sunset.  Think of the intricacy of how God weaves together the lives of our wee babies within us.  Think of how awesome and amazing God is.  Think of the power and omnipresence of the Lord.  Now think of what your marriage might be like if you were always praying and often silent. 

"1I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 7Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. 8I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 9In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 11Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety."  ~I Timothy 2

It is in my heart to encourage you as a wife.  To encourage you to be the woman that God designed you to be.  God's design for your life will set you apart from this world.  It is right and best for all of us to start our day on our knees.  All of the words written above come as a result of my selfish and my sinful nature and as the result of the correction of a loving Heavenly Father. "But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  ~ Hebrews 3:13"  "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: ~ Hebrews 10:24"

A Woman at Prayer in a Church Framed Art Print by Mose Bianchi

Won't you join me?

Being quiet is not always appropriate.  Being prayerful is.  We must take every thought captive and that is not possible once we have flung that thought out of our mouths.  Conversely, taking a thought captive can translate into "taking something back" from the Lord that He intends you to speak to your husband.  Ladies, we must be constantly in prayer.  The thoughts that are on our heart ... we must take them to the Lord to determine when we should be quiet and when we should speak with tenderness and love.  Being quiet can also create a place in which you run from the word of God...a crutch to not speak when the Lord is nudging you to talk to your husband.

Pray, pray, pray...  We must pray without ceasing ladies.  We must cry out to God and deny ourselves...we must seek His face and not be satisfied with the mere "crumbs" of His obvious existance in our lives.  Trust in Him with all of your heart and never, ever lean upon your own understanding.

~~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

Originally posted:  June 23, 2007


July 21, 2008

Denying Ourselves by Mrs. Crawford

Mrs. Crawford over at Generation Cedar writes with tremendous passion and intensity.  She wrote an article a few days ago that I wanted to share.

Here is an excerpt from Denying Ourselves:

"It's just like Jesus to ask us to do something He knows we can't do! And why? Because that leaves us completely dependent upon HIS strength and grace to walk in obedience. And that's tricky; He requires obedience (my will) to the things He asks of me (His will), but it's an obedience that can only be carried out through the strength He can give me.  And what if I don't deny myself? What happens to me, my family, my church, community, neighborhood, world?"

Please take a few minutes and read Mrs. Crawford's article:  Denying Ourselves.

~~~
posted by Mrs. Klause

July 21, 2008

Music:  Be Thou My Vision

July 14, 2008

Wife, you just can't do it. Stop trying...

Evening Dance Art Print by V. Dolgov

Isn't this a beautiful picture of a man and his wife? 

Clinging to one another...  Looking through his eyes right down into his heart...  Allowing the soft music to carry their steps...  The sweet smell of the flowers surrounding them...  When they stop dancing, they will peer out into the magnificent blue sky and wonder together...  Then they will wander over and see their images, side-by-side, in the reflection of the water...

I just can't be that wife to my husband.  I do not have all that he needs. 

You do not have all that your husband needs either.

You cannot be the wife that your husband needs.

Wedding Bands Photographic Print by Sally Moskol

What is it that you, Wife, have prayed about and determined that you need to do for or with your husband?  Words that you need to speak...  An attitude that needs adjusted...  An action carried out daily...

A conversation that needs to be had.

Socks that simply need to be picked up daily, with a smile on your face.

A friendship that needs to be ended.

An alarm clock that needs to be adhered to.

A tongue that needs to be controlled.

Daily exercise that needs to be done.

Meals that need to be prepared.

~~~~

I don't know what the Lord has laid on your heart or if you have even begun to seek the Lord's will in your daily words and actions toward your husband.  Are there things that you feel like you need to do that you just can't?  Are there words to be spoken that you just cannot seem to pull from out of the depths of your heart?  Are there tasks that you need to do or that your husband has asked you to do that you struggle to complete each day? 

~~~~

Our marriages are not about our happiness.  Most of us know that already.  We have made a commitment to love, honor, cherish and obey for better or worse until the sting of death parts us from our husbands.  Marriage is, however, about our holiness.  It is about refining us.  Our marriages are for the glory of God. 

Commitment: Couple Art Print

As I sat before the Lord this morning, I realized something.

The Creator told me something this morning.  Not in words that were audible but in that "voice" that you can "hear" deep down inside your heart. 

"You cannot be all that he needs."

{sigh}

That statement doesn't mean exactly what you think it might mean though...

Sometimes we see things only from our perspective.

Marriage is not about our husband's happiness either.

God uses our marriages to make our husbands more holy.

God uses our marriages and what happens each and every day to refine our husbands.

~~~~

Garden of Delight Art Print by William Morris

Our lives are so intricate.  The Lord weaves us together for His glory.  I do believe that it is beyond our ability to understand how God weaves our free will and poor decisions into His plan.  I recently shared a very simplified word-picture with a young woman:  The way that God weaves our lives all together would be like us trying to knit a tiny little baby's hat when someone keeps changing the color of the yarn and the pattern.  It is like trying to knit this hat when someone randomly removes one of your needles from your hand and then gives it back a while later. 

God gave us free will.  The ability to choose whether we would obey His will or whether we would disobey His will.  He "weaves" all things for the good of those who love Him.  He "weaves" our lives so that He is glorified no matter what our decisions.

My beloved husband's heart is beyond my ability to understand.  The work that God is doing in his heart is beyond my ability to understand.  No matter where our husband's are in their lives...  No matter who they are....

...loving or unloving...

...gentle or harsh...

...hard-working or lazy...

...sober or drunk...

...self-controlled or selfish...

...saved by Grace or not...

Wife, if you are seeking the will of God in your marriage, then you must obey when He makes clear a particular plan.  When the Lord tells us something or shows us something then we must simply obey.  We must take not allow our own emotions to control us but we must simply obey the whisper of our Heavenly Father. 

Ladies...if you have "heard" the Lord over a particular matter but are failing to carry it out or move forward...you, me...we are grieving the Lord greatly.  We are disobeying the Lord.  We are exerting our wills over the perfect will of the Lord.  We are allowing our emotions to control us.  We are thinking that we know better.  How arrogant we can be sometimes. 

Have you ever or do you ever instruct your children to simply obey and then ask questions later? 

:-)

I have.

I think it is that simple for us too.

~~~

Do what you have been told to do Wife. 

Almighty God, Creator of the Heaven and Earth, The I Am...  He is at work in the hearts of our men.  We cannot be all that our men need.  We try to fill all the gaps.

There are threads that we do not have.  There are stitches that we cannot weave.  There are gaps that we cannot fill...

...only Christ can fill the gaps...

...only the work of The Master's hand can create some things...

Evening Dance Art Print by V. Dolgov

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."  ~~Matthew 6:33

 "2That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;  3In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."  ~~Colossians 2:2-3

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

July 14, 2008

Music:  Canon in D

July 11, 2008

Happy Birthday Addison!

Addison is turning two today. 

~~~

Addison & Mommy

She was born in the afternoon...

Addison's birth & coming home 005

...with lots of family and friends at the hospital awaiting her arrival...

 Addison's birth & coming home 031

...Daddy and Addison...

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...Kennedy (17 months old) and Bailey (4 years) seeing and holding Addison for the first time...

...when Kennedy saw Addison, she started giggling and she giggled for days every time she saw Addison or held her; she was so excited...

~~~~

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Her first birthday party celebrated 2000 miles from family and friends.  We had just moved to Washington a month prior.

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Addison really liked balls so we made it a Round Birthday Party.  ;-)  We had a polka dotted cake and balls and bubbles.

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...she liked the bubbles...

~~~

We have family coming in this weekend.  I will post more photos over the next couple of days for our family and friends that are far away from Addison on her birthday.

~~~

May I just take today to shout from the rooftop...

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward! 

~~~~~~

Psalm 127

 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

~~~

Birthdays are completely different to me now that I have children of my own.  What an amazing day of celebration.  A celebration of life of our child...the life that has already been lived and the life that is ahead of our child.  A day where my feeling of thankfulness to the Lord overwhelms me.  The reward of our children is amazing and humbling.  A day of tremendous joy for the Klause quiver is blessed.

posted by Mrs. Klause

July 11, 2008

Music:  Over The Rainbow

July 04, 2008

The Little Girls' Room

Let's see...

We moved back to Texas May 21st.  There are still boxes in the garage.  Mostly books and off-season clothes that need to be re-boxed and labeled.  It is so hot here.  The weather is just the opposite of Washington weather.  We lived on the eastern side of Washington.  Very little rain there...  The last seven months we spent in Washington the high temperature was 50 degrees and we saw that only twice.  We acclimated to the climate nicely.  About two weeks before we left I was taking the trash out in short sleeves and no shoes and it was 42 degrees.  Ha!  A dear friend that we met there had moved from Phoenix about three years prior.  She was serious when she said that 40 degrees would be a heat wave. 

The girls and I have had a hard time getting used to the heat again.  It hovers around 100 and has since early June.  Funny....the girls and I are back to wearing a sweater when it is 80 in the morning. 

Our new home has four bedrooms:  two very small ones, one small and the master is moderately-sized.  In Washington, all three girls shared a room.  Here, Addison and Kennedy share and Bailey has her own.

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Addison's bed...

The walls were already painted a lovely light green so their pink and green pretties went well in their room.

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Mrs. Bohot gave Addison the piggy bank before she was born.  The little pink wooden house is one of my favorite material possessions.  My Daddy gave it to me several years ago.  It is actually a recipe box and a music box.  It plays My Favorite Things.  The little rabbits were given to Kennedy & Addison by Mrs. Bohot before we left Texas.

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This pretty little rabbit was mine when I was a little girl.  I think Mother actually got her for me somewhere along the way.  I must ask Mother about Miss Flopsy's history.  ;0)

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Under Miss Flopsy is a small light so that Addison can look at books while in her crib.  The girls get to look at books in their beds before "lights out".  This came about when we were in Washington with all the girls in one room.  I wanted Bailey and Kennedy to be able to look through books without disturbing Addison's rest.  We purchased small shelves at Michael's and my ever-so-smart husband decided that headlamps would be the best option.  They are battery operated and came with a headstrap.  You know, so that men can wear them and have a hands-free flashlight.  We use rechargable batteries and it works so well.  The lamps are attached to the shelves with heavy-duty Velcro.

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This is a mosaic.  It has a sweet story behind it.  Bailey was a baby.  The pastor's wife at our church made the most beautiful mosaic crosses.  Each year we had a nice dinner for the ladies and there were always door prizes.  Mrs. Sweet donated this cross.  Mrs. Jakubauskas and I went to the dinner and she won the cross in the drawing.  I admired it and said something like, 'If you ever suddenly find that missing from your wall, I'm the guilty one.'  ;0)  I couldn't get a good picture of it.  It is in shades of purple and so lovely.  Guess what I got from Mrs. Jakubauskas for Christmas that year.  Now don't feel sorry for her, I had selected the broken ceramic pieces from Mrs. Sweet's collection for a cross to be prepared for Mrs. Jakubauskas about a year prior.  :0)  So she has one of Mrs. Sweet's lovelies as well.

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This is Kennedy's side of the room.  That big horse on the bed was a gift from Mother & Daddy last December.  Kennedy's named her Furry.  She is so soft that I would dare you not to find yourself petting Furry if you ever happen to come to visit and lay your hands on her.  Furry travels with us on any lengthy journeys.  Mother convinced Kennedy to pack her in the suitcase instead of bringing her on the plane when we flew back to Texas.  She went to Walmart with us a couple of weeks ago.  She was strapped in the seat next to Kennedy.  :0)  Kennedy asked if Furry could come into the store with us but I required that Furry remain outside.  As I was getting out of the van in the parking lot, I looked over at the minivan parked next to us and I saw a toddler seat....in the seat next to the toddler seat was a large stuffed giraffe.  :0)  I should have left a note on their windshield.  I am sure that the other momma would have gotten the same giggle I got out of seeing the big horse in our seat.

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The girls got these little pink straw hats last February.  They were very sincere in wearing their pink cowgirl boots and pink hats in Washington.  Momma had nothing to do with this.  There was many a smile put on many a face in the state of Washington at the site of three little pink cowgirls.  The picture above is something that I bought when Kennedy was a baby.  I thought it was nice...Sweet Sisters...it is actually an old advertisement for strawberry jam.

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I bought the ceramic when Bailey was a baby:  "Blessed are those that rejoice in the little things."

The fabric heart was purchased for my infant girls by Mother:  "Angels Sleeping".

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This is above Kennedy's headboard.  Her shelf with her light, a cross that Mother bought for me several years back, pretty flowers arrived via Mother while we were in Washington and one of Kennedy's horses.

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Mother bought this simple creamy metal towel rack (actually) that has worked nicely for a quilt rack.  The crocheted blanket was made for Bailey by a friend of Mother's.  Bailey used the blanket on her bed while in Washington.  The little white box was also a gift from Mother.  It makes a nice place for doll clothes.

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The floor area where the ironing board is at changes from week-to-week.  Currently, the baby-doll bunk beds are kept on this wall.  :0)

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These are my ballet shoes.  I took ballet only for a short time.  I think I was about six.  The tiny birdhouse is has a mosaic roof, also made by Mrs. Sweet. 

The bedroom stays mostly free of toys.  There is a small toy basket under Addison's bed.  The other toys remain in the garage in boxes.  The boxes are brought in only one at a time and then returned to the garage at the end of the day.  It is a wonderful way to keep toys under control, but that is an entirely different post.

:0)

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

July 3, 2008

Music:  My Favorite Things

June 30, 2008

Purpose Is Required

Picking Posies by the River Giclee Print by Alfred Augustus Glendenning

Every single day we are "steeping" character traits into our children.

That teaching can be passive as we fly through the days simply reacting to what happens throughout the day. 

...or...

We can be precise and particular in carefully teaching their hearts the character of Christ. 

Our children's character must "be purposed".

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."  ~~Proverbs 22:6

Purpose is defined as an end to be obtained; a subject under discussion; an action in course of execution.  Therefore, every moment of every day, mommas must remain focused on the end that we want to obtain for our children.  They must remain a matter of discussion with the Lord and with our husbands.  We must remember that the very hearts of our children are in a constant state of development.

What is the end to be obtained for each of our children anyway?  What is "the way he should go"??  I think it is this:

"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment."  ~~Matthew 22:37-38

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

June 30. 2008

Music:  Ancient Words

June 24, 2008

Goodbye Logan...

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He's been pretty sick since February.  He was diagnosed with cancer.

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I had to come up with some clothes for him to wear...

DSC01368


I found that a boy's 4T fit him nicely...with some alterations, of course.  I tapered the sides of his shirt, added snaps to the shirt and shorts so that I could snap them together and added a tail hole. 





Some of his tumors were internal and some were external so his the clothes protected the external tumors from being damaged...

He tolerated it just wonderfully. 


Dsc00638    :0)

Dsc00640

Oh wait...these are from last fall.  It was only a matter of time before those girls put him in a dress!  ;0)  He was a good dog.

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He's had some good days and some bad days since February. 

He sure enjoyed a good walk.  When he was feeling particularly bad, he still wanted to join us so we pulled him in the wagon.

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Logan's favorite place to lay throughout the day.

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Logan taking a walk with his girls.

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Lots of love and kisses from his girls in his last days...



~~~~~~~

God's word is not completely clear on whether our animals will join us in Glory.  In Isaiah 65:25, He says this, " The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD." and in Isaiah 11:6, the Lord says, "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them."  It seems that only in Heaven could the wolf dwell with a lamb and the lion eat straw. 

We are thankful for the time that we had with Logan here.  May God be glorified...even in the death of our ol' dog.

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Goodbye Logan.

We will miss you.

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

June 24, 2008

Music:  The Gift by David Nevue

June 13, 2008

Swimsuit #1

Swimsuits for little girls...

..whew..

The Klause girls all arrived into this world with very fair skin.  Between their fair skin and a desire that the entire world not be privy to their tiny f*nnies hanging out of their swimsuit bottoms, it seems the only available option was for me to make their suits.  I found only one company that had suits with sleeves and skirts/shorts but 1) I just didn't like any of them; and 2) boy, they cost a lot of pennies.

I purchased a pattern from Ms. Smisor at Fashionably Modest Patterns, purchased the necessary fabric and notions and set about to making swimsuit #1.  First of all, let me encourage anyone that would like to make their own swimsuits.  However, let me also tell you that you will need to set your mind firmly to the task because it will take some time, lots of patience, lots of trial and error and lots of determination.  The pattern itself (and other swimwear patterns I have looked at) are not difficult at all.  The challenge lies in sewing with lyrca.  Determining the amount of tension that is necessary to move the fabric through the sewing machine and serger along with the amount of tension necessary to place on the thread will take nothing more than trying it until you find what is needed for your machine(s).

Kennedy's suit is finished. 

Kennedy's new swimsuit 2



After I make Addison's suit and Bailey's suit then I will go back and shorten Kennedy's skirt some.  It turned out longer than I had anticipated.







Kennedy's new swimsuit butterfly



Each of the girls will have this butterfly on their suit.  Kennedy wanted a pink swimsuit.  Bailey wanted a turquoise blue.  I wanted to make Addison a yellow one but opted to veer from the light color that would surely be promptly soiled with the dirt she will plop down into the first 42 seconds she is wearing it.  ;0)  Addison's will also be turquoise blue.


Kennedy's new swimsuit trim along bottom



I trimmed Kennedy's skirt with turquoise thread and will trim the other girls' skirts with hot pink.





I believe Ms. Smisor placed this particular pattern about an intermediate sewing level.  Again, the seamstress should simply go into the project knowing that the construction is not difficult but the fabric is not so easy to work with.  It will not be a project that you will zing together. 


~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

June 13, 2008

Menus - Breakfast & Snacks

Good Morning Art Print by Jerianne Van Dijk

Our breakfast menu is working out nicely.  If you missed that post, you can read it here

We did switch our Thursday and Friday morning menu.  We have cold cereal on Thursdays and save the pancakes or baked goods for Friday.  Had I have been thinking when making the menu, I would have done this in the first place.  We do our cooking and baking on Thursdays so we now make sure to enjoy the fresh baked goods on Friday mornings.

This has completely eliminated the habit of the morning-begging for cold cereal. 

~~~

This same principle has worked wonderfully for snacks as well.  Instead of the children constantly asking for their favorite snacks, we simply follow the menu.  Of course Mommy reserves the right to override or add to the snack menu at any time.  ;0)

Snacks:

Monday:  cinnamon graham crackers; oranges; pretzels

Tuesday:  fruit bars; nuts; left-over pancakes (the recipe that we use gives us a sweet pancake and the girls love them cold, too)

Wednesday:  apples; cheese & crackers; pickles

Thursday:  vanilla wafers; carrots; pretzels

Friday:  baked goods; popcorn; chips & salsa

~~~

Our girls are allowed to eat fresh fruit or veggies anytime and do partake daily.  I took a few of their favorites and intermingled with healthy snacks.  The children have a morning snack, a snack before their rest at 2pm and a snack around 4:30.  A few months back I pushed suppertime back to 6pm with hopes that Daddy would make it home each eve for a hot meal.  Tiny tummies are very hungry before 6pm so the 4ish snack arrived with the later suppertime in our house. 

It is working well for us.

I pray that if you will enjoy a Friday filled with the Lord's presence.  Let's smile at our children and enjoy their tiny hands and their silly giggles.  Let's smile at unintentional messes and "heal" grumpy hearts with bear-hugs today. 

:0)

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

June 13, 2008

Music: My Favorite Things

June 11, 2008

A Living Sanctuary

Far Away Art Print by Michael F. Wood

"To what aspect of my person am I drawing attention to and is that honoring to Christ?"

                                                   ~~Dr. Voddie Baucham

 

I recently heard Dr. Bauchman speak the above words.  He suggested asking ourselves this question each morning as we are selecting our clothing.

And we should teach our daughters to ask themselves this question as well.

~~~~

All that we are...

All that we do...

Do we honor and glorify the Lord?

Christ in Clouds Art Print by Danny Hahlbohm

Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
Sanctuary for You

It is you, Lord
Who came to save
The heart and soul
Of every man
It is you Lord
who knows my weakness
Who gives me strength,
With thine own hand.

Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and Holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving I'll be a living
Sanctuary for you

Lead Me on Lord
From temptation
Purify me
From within
Fill my heart with
You holy spirit
Take away all my sin

Lord prepare me to ba sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
Sanctuary for You

~~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

June 11, 2008

Music: Sanctuary

June 04, 2008

I must act accordingly...


Sunset Beach Art Print by Diane Romanello

"Faith is picturing what God wants to do and acting in accordance with it."

                                                                     ~~ Dr. S. M. Davis

"Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you."  ~~Matthew 9:29

"And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."  ~~Matthew 17:20

 

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

June 3, 2008

May 29, 2008

Breakfast - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 days

Happy Breakfast Art Print by Alie Kruse-Kolk

Our last several months in Washington we enjoyed a large full breakfast every morning, as a family.  Mr. Klause suggested it as we were discussing our family's eating habits one evening but he did not want to cause unnecessary morning burden on his wife.  I agreed that a larger breakfast in place of a larger dinner meal would be a more healthy option for us.  I also shared that it would actually be easier to prepare the large meal early in the day when I am "fresh" in my day instead of late in the day.  It was a good theory and it proved to be true.  We all enjoyed the large breakfast meal and really enjoyed having the meal as a family every single morning. 

Still Life with Bouquet and White Bread Art Print

It was wonderful to smell the biscuits and bacon cooking...or the oatmeal...or an occasional batch of cinnamon rolls...

The move to Texas and the job change has caused our morning routine to change.  Mr. Klause leaves before the children wake now and the large breakfast as a family is no longer a part of our days. 

Unfortunately we have fallen into the habit of a cold cereal "sprinkled" with a good breakfast instead of good breakfasts "sprinkled" with cold cereal.

Mr. Klause and I have been discussing nutrition for our family again in recent days.  When Kennedy was a baby I successfully used a weekly menu and would like to do that again.  Not rigid menu plans mind you.

The girls and I sat down this morning to see about some planning and this is what we have come up with so far. 

Sundays: peanut butter & jelly (or honey) sandwiches --- This was specifically selected because it is a quick and easy meal that is filling.  It facilitates getting everyone ready for church and not having a morning snack while in church.

Mondays: eggs

Tuesdays: pancakes

Wednesdays: hot cereal or rice

Thursdays: pancakes or pastry --- The girls really like pancakes.

Fridays: cold cereal

Saturdays:  Daddy's choice --- We use a pancake batter that we make ahead and put into the fridge for the week so if we don't have pancakes on Thursdays then we can eat them on Saturdays.

Meal Options

EGGS:

     1) boiled eggs, toast, fruit

     2) scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits or toast

     3) fried eggs (rare) and toast

     4) poached egg, cheese & meat on an English muffin or biscuit

     5) ham, egg and cheese on a croissant

     6) omelets

     7) My Daddy's Breakfast Casserole (Look for this recipe to be posted soon.)

     8) breakfast tacos

     **** Hash browns, fried potatoes, fruit or gravy could be added to any meal.

PANCAKES:

     1) just pancakes

     2) add scrambled eggs

     3) add fruit to top our pancakes

     4) add a breakfast meat

     5) make pigs-in-a-blanket out of them

HOT CEREAL OR RICE:

     1) oatmeal

     2) Malt-O-Meal

     3) Cream of Wheat

     4) cooked rice with butter, sugar and milk added

     5) oatmeal bake

PANCAKES (see above) OR PASTRY:

     1) cinnamon rolls

     2) homemade bread with peanut butter and bananas

     3) muffins with bacon

     4) donuts

COLD CEREAL:

     - self-explanatory of course

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The concept of planning a generalized menu worked so well before.  It allows for direction and planning for shopping and ensures well-rounded nutrition and variety in the meals but allows for flexibility.

I'll let you know how it is going along the way and, of course, I will share any great recipes we find!  We would also welcome any other breakfast ideas or great recipes that you and your family enjoy! 

** If you are new to my blog, you can share your recipe or thoughts by scrolling to the bottom of this post and click on the word "comments" in the light grey print. **

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

May 29, 2008

Music: Little Brown Church in the Vale

May 19, 2008

Wise Words

Still Life of Cooking Utensils, Cauldron, Frying Pan and Eggs Giclee Print by Jean-Baptiste Simeon Chardin

Taste your words before you spit them out.

                                                ~~Unknown

"The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us? "  ~~Psalm 12:3-4

"Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.  ~~Psalm 34:13

"I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me."  ~~Psalm 39:1

"The tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully."  ~~Psalm 52:2

"My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness."  ~~Psalm 119:172

"The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness."  ~~Proverbs 15:2

"She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness."  ~~Proverbs 31:26

"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones."  ~~Proverbs 16:24

"19Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:  20For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."  ~~James 1:19-20

I was going to stop with the scripture above but decided otherwise.  I challenge you to spend some time this week with your children studying these verses above.  Not just reading them but praying over them and meditating on the very words breathed by the Lord God.  It is so easy to just let the words flow from our mouths...easy for all of us.  Mommas, we must be ever careful mindful  controlled in what we say...to our husbands, to our children...  We must make certain that we do not allow our emotions to control our tongues. 

I will take the challenge...

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

May 19, 2008

Music:

May 15, 2008

I was living inside the box.

Summer Day Giclee Print by Charles Baugniet

*+*     This was actually part of the next post, which you will find below, but technical difficulties prevented me from adding anything to that posting. *+*  The article The Rise & Fall & Rise of Motherhood in America has been posted with the written permission of Vision Forum Ministries.

~~~

Once upon a time I would never have been in agreeance with the writings of Doug Phillips in the post below, The Rise & Fall & Rise of Motherhood in America.

I was living my life "doing good" and "being good" according to the world's standards and/or "the Christian standards".  I did not really realize that I was in complete control of my walk with the Lord as I meandered along doing what everyone else did.  In hindsight, the steps were clearly taken as I deemed them according to God's word.

Then, one day, the Lord stopped me and had me look around and question my motives, my actions and my thoughts.  I had to think "outside of the box" and I realized that I was living according to societal norms instead of according to God's perfect word. 

...please read on to through the next post:  The Rise & Fall & Rise of Motherhood in America...

~~~

posted by Mrs. Klause

The Rise & Fall & Rise of Motherhood in America

Only women can be mothers. Have we forgotten this fundamental?

Only a woman can carry in her body an eternal being which bears the very image of God. Only she is the recipient of the miracle of life. Only a woman can conceive and nurture this life using her own flesh and blood, and then deliver a living soul into the world. God has bestowed upon her alone a genuine miracle — the creation of life, and the fusing of an eternal soul with mortal flesh. This fact alone establishes the glory of motherhood.

Despite the most creative plans of humanist scientists and lawmakers to redefine the sexes, no man will ever conceive and give birth to a child. The fruitful womb is a holy gift given by God to women alone. This is one reason why the office of wife and mother is the highest calling to which a woman can aspire.

This is the reason why nations that fear the Lord esteem and protect mothers. They glory in the distinctions between men and women, and attempt to build cultures in which motherhood is honored and protected.